Mike Portnoy Wants To Sail Away With Me

That’s because he’s teamed up with InsideOut Music, Derek Sherinian and Sixthman to create a Progressive Nation cruise for 2014.

The inaugural sailing will take place February 18 and February 22, 2014, on the luxurious Norwegian Pearl heading from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Freeport, Bahamas.

This music festival at sea gives fans an experience that a land festival just can’t match. There’s all the drinking, the swimsuits, and the sea sickness.

Who is playing?

Jon Anderson, King’s X, Spock’s Beard, Bigelf, Beardfish, and Transatlantic, to name a couple. Portnoy will be playing with some other dudes. Whatever.

Also playing are Pain of Salvation, The Flower Kings, The Dear Hunter, Next To None, Riverside, and Tony Harnell with Bumblefoot.

“In 2008 and 2009, I created a touring package called Progressive Nation and with Dream Theater headlining. We did three full tours (two in North America and one in Europe) that showcased a variety of bands that embraced the spirit and musicality of progressive music,” Mike says.

“Well, after a five-year hiatus, I have decided to resurrect Progressive Nation and this time we are taking it to the seas! But rather than a four-band bill like previous Progressive Nation tours, we have expanded the bill to over a dozen of today’s greatest progressive bands, musicians and artists (and there may be one or two more still to be confirmed).”